Just one hour ago 150 to 200 uniformed police officers stromed this year’s Cannabis Cup, our sources at the Cup say.
The Cannabis Cup, undoubtably the largest gathering on the planet to celebrate, discover and judge all things marijuana, has been raided by the Dutch police. Such police interference is unheard of in the 24 years of the Cup.
Our crew inside, Ali Bongo’s company directors and manager, jetted off to the Cup at the start of this week, intent on rooting out the hottest new strains on the market and bringing back the best new smoking materials and accessories back to our store. After several days of exploring, smoking, circulating, smoking, networking and smoking, they returned to the Cup this morning for more intrepid head-shop work. And some smoking.
The frantic telephone report I just received from the boss himself was that as they were leaving the Cup, 150 or more uniformed police advanced upon the venue and entered. Our crew managed to leave the venue, but report that people behind them were being stopped and searched.
Whilst a large amount of the police were in full uniform, our source says that many were also plain-clothes officers. The police were all carrying evidence bags.
The cup changed venue this year to the Leidseplein area of Amsterdam, and perhaps this may be linked in to police action, we’re unsure. Today’s events took place south of there, at Borchland’s Sport and Exhibition Centre.
And that’s the word of the moment right now: we don’t know. The Cannabis Cup was in full swing with a full crowd there when numerous members of the Dutch police force decened upon the venue. We shall update as we know more.
This just in from the boss:
At the very least, it won’t be going on tonight. Who knows when or if it will be able to start back up. We could be witnessing the end of the Cannabis Cup; the end of an era.
“Amersterdam is changing.” Is the word from the boss, who’s out there now, relaying this news by telephone, “the Red-Light district has all changed and the whole feel of the ‘Dam is very different from previous years. It’s sad times.”
So sad times at the High Times cup.
Another contact INSIDE the venue just contacted us with this update:
The police are advancing under the pretense of some kind of Opium law. The Cup is usually not subject to police action, but they are stopping and searching everyone here.
The police are confiscating, bagging and impounding everything from everyone, but are taking no names or hauling no one into custody so far, at least that I’ve seen.
Our source believes that it is the that fact the Cup has moved location that could be the catalyst for the police raid. He has indicated that the local authority (The Mayor?) of this particular area is unhappy with The Cup’s presence in his duristiction and has sent police in.
Whilst the police continue to collect and confiscate any illicit matterials (bear in mind this is The Cannabis Cup so they could be some time!) the people inside the venue are smoking up as quick as they can. A circle of smokers is growing and people plan to blaze up whatever they are carrying before it gets taken from them by the local forces.
This is all we know for now – you’ll have more as we hear it.
The boss from the ‘Dam:
“Ok this is not a wind up. Closed down event. People being searched on exit. But this way BIGGER than that. More updates to follow”
Sensi Seeds inform us: “Police directly targeting event & attendees! Searching patrons, arrests for possession of more than 5g of cannabis”
Picture courtesy of @LaraDarson on Twitter
So the Dutch forces are now implimenting a 5g limit on everyone attending the cup, is the amount you have on your person exceeds 5g, further action will be taken.
Police at the scene (photo from Greenhouse seeds):
Trouble for DNA genetics?:
Blog-reader Max says:
“Hi guys, it was awful, intimidating and absolutely uneeded show of unfirma and authority. The Opium Law gives police the right to enter premises and confiscate soft drugs in case of suspicion of dealing or carrying more than 5 gr.,but what I ve seen this afternoon was really too much.”
UPDATES:
High Times is yet to issue a statement on the distruption to this year’s Cannabis Cup.
It appears that the Dutch police force are putting a firm foot down on the event. Just last month the Dutch government propsed changes to the law that would supress any cannabis with a THC content higher than 15%, and further changes to the ‘Cafe Culture’ of the ‘Dam were set to come in next year. The general feel we are getting from people in Amsterdam today is that this police action marks the beggining of largescale change in the Netherlands.
Sensi seeds reports that : “The police apparently timed their entrance to coincide with an onstage hash-making demonstration by legendary hash expert Mila of the Pollinator Compan”. Such updates and information are being received worldwide thanks to frantic social networking.
Ali Bongo awaits a full report from our sources in the city of Amsterdam tonight.
THIS JUST IN FROM HIGH TIMES ATTORNEY, DAVID CLIFFORD:
“I am one of the attorneys for High Times and this started over a misunderstanding about a permit application filed by the venue to host the event. Our US and Dutch lawyers have just finished reviewing them with the police there. No attendees have been arrested and attendees are not the targets of the police presence. Police are ensuring that all vendors are in compliance with the 500 gram limit under the Opium Law for licensed vendors at the venue. Only one vendor has been identified as potentially over the limit, but only slightly. In any event, the show will go on tomorrow and additionally, the Melweg will be opening at 2pm tomorrow to accomodate judges who do not wish to trek outside of Amsterdam so that they can avoid the lines and vote early. Further details will be posted on the High Times site later today.”
Tags: banned, cannabis, cup cannabiscup, high, hightimes, police, raid, times
[...] cannabis cup raided FUCKK. Police Raid Shock At 2011 High Times Cannabis Cup!! – Ali Bongo [...]
one picture here:
http://www.strainhunters.com/portal/comment/28734#comment-28734
live from htcc
live stream from the bust at cannabis cup, still live at this moment: http://www.strainhunters.com/portal/
I believe that the venue this year is in Duivendrecht (right outside of Amsterdam) and not Amsterdam so you could be right. Maybe that city is not tolerant like Amsterdam.
GG
This is utter bullshit. How the hell do they expect to find Opium at a Marijuana convention..? The day the Cannabis Cup ends is the day stoners finally unite and actually DO something about it. This makes me sick.
[...] Times Cannabis Cup Busted about an hour ago article: Police Raid Shock At 2011 High Times Cannabis Cup!! – Ali Bongo live stream: Strain Hunters Live | Strain Hunters by Green House Seed Company quote from High [...]
Hi guys, it was awful, intimidating and absolutely uneeded show of unfirma and authority. The Opium Law gives police the right to enter premises and confiscate soft drugs in case of suspicion of dealing or carrying more than 5 gr.,but what I ve seen this afternoon was really too much.
where are you now Max? Any updates?
I left about 30min ago, bak home now. Police was checking stand and workers inside the fair area. They didn’t let anyone hanging around the area and once searched you could leave. They didn’t apply the ‘blind eye’ clause of the 5gr and fully enforce the law. But EACH AND EVERY single person has been searched and even small quantities were confiscated. I guess, as someone was telling, that the problem has been caused as the fair space is actually outside Amsterdam.
Are you fucking kidding me. They should have just kept it in amsterdam.
This is unheard of – a very bad sign of things to come.
As far as i know the expo is always just outside of damn, atleast in the case when i went in 09. Never goin to be the same!
[...] and searching everyone leaving and busting anyone with more than 5g's of the beautiful herb. Police Raid Shock At 2011 High Times Cannabis Cup!! – Ali Bongo Fuck, i was serisouly planning to go this year with a buddy, but he couldnt go and i didnt wanna [...]
Chillax, all is good over there. I am one of the attorneys for High Times and this started over a misunderstanding about a permit application filed by the venue to host the event. Our US and Dutch lawyers have just finished reviewing them with the police there. No attendees have been arrested and attendees are not the targets of the police presence. Police are ensuring that all vendors are in compliance with the 500 gram limit under the Opium Law for licensed vendors at the venue. Only one vendor has been identified as potentially over the limit, but only slightly. In any event, the show will go on tomorrow and additionally, the Melweg will be opening at 2pm tomorrow to accomodate judges who do not wish to trek outside of Amsterdam so that they can avoid the lines and vote early. Further details will be posted on the High Times site later today.
[...] Cup Busted!!!!!!!! http://www.alibongo.co.uk/blog/compe…s-cannabis-cup GS_googleAddAdSenseService("ca-pub-9888434945255495"); GS_googleEnableAllServices(); [...]
Will give further updates soon….but right know its time to find a good coffee shop and have a good smoke,while we still can.
oh shit, i wanted 2 go next year aswell
Thanks for the updated guys!! If this was about vendors you’d think it could of been handled in a little more professional manner!
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Time to move the function to Denver, Colo.
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A typical excample of the dutch zero tolerance policy against consummers of cannabis from foreighn country,s!
I can hardley believe from what is left from our tolerance when it come,s to cannabis trade and specialy consumption of cannabis products these people orn,t even criminals!
I alway,s thougt that they would never criminalise consumers. STAND UP AND COME UP FOR YOUR RIGHT.S
http://www.avaaz.org/en/end_the_war_on_drugs/?twi
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Borchland is a very awkward place to hold this expo. It actually is a former SPORTS centre turned bowling hall, where regular Dutch John and Jane Doe’s hold their children’s parties etc. A few years ago it was a tennis court centre, that only changed recently. The famous Amsterdam Arena soccer stadium is only a few hundred meters away. Whoever chose to host the HTCC there probably was stoned out of his mind. It was probably staff of Borchland itself who called on the cops. Thats what you get when you’re so off the track.
This blog has been repeated at grasscity.com – did they just copy paste it? It’s obviously a bongo thread.
Waist of time and money for police..good though, also even for dutch justice department to find out this way . everyone knows now that HTCC is a supercool event that has nothing to do with hard drug, terrorism or money laundry its clear that it is just peaceful people having a good time enjoying their medicine. cannabis should be legal because it is not harming anyone!
The truth only can set you free!
Copenhagen City Council just proposed to legalize cannabis within Copenhagen. Screw Amsterdam! If Copenhagen opens up, we should boycott the place!
are you fucking retarded? durisdiction? really? how the fuck did you get this job?
According to our information, Mila from the Pollinator Company was arrested by the police for a couple of hours before being released.
She seemed to have slightly too much herb with her for the police.
More information will follow as soon as we receive updates.
They the police are raiding the canabis cup and destroying an event thats been going on for 20 ish years…Wtf there wont be a dam anymore, They (The Politicians) dont want you having any kind of fun whatsoever so they make up whatever laws they want to saturate the fun out of our life. They see people who smoke the herb non threatening so they can do as they please without fear of reprisal, Come on people walking round the streets of london once a year shouting “FREE THE WEED” isn’t going to change anything, Were in a recession there mass unemployment no money no prospects, Alot of people cant even afford to eat or keep warm, Them the politicians and the Police need to be shown that nobody gives a rats arse about there laws anymore, It not being a anarchist it being pushed to the point of despair. enough ranting for 1 day i need a JOINT
“Just last month the Dutch government propsed changes to the law that would supress any cannabis with a THC content higher than 15%”
Surprised they haven’t done this for Oxy’s and other opiates first. That is the scourge. Leave pot alone. As if a politician should know best about what % thc is good enough. Its not like its alcohol where more will kill you and possibly others around you.
Whilst possession of Cannabis is tolerated in The Netherlands, such possession should not exceed the 5 grams, which is plenty for a user.
Additionally products such as Hash Oil are considered hard drugs. More importantly if Cannabis is legal, Heroin and Cocaine are not, despite popular belief of the contrary.
Promotion of the use of Cannabis is also forbidden.
The police only raided the dumb Americans which violated those rules. And they were still nice in just informing them about the rules, and not fining them altogether.
We are talking about USA citizens dressed as Druglords, with large banners and signs encouraging the use of Cannabis and other drugs, carrying with them amounts which not even Coffeeshops are allowed to keep in stock.
Yankees go home, if you can’t take the hint!
If all the Yankees went home, there would be no Cannabis Cup. High Times Magazine is a New York Company, dumbie.
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